Morning journal and courier., 1887-05-09
OUR COMMERCIAL INTEREsT

New HaVen's Fleet of Three-Masfers
 Likely to Increase Again With The
 Removal of a Barrier Which Has
 Damaged our Shipping Interests
 Our Coastw1se COmmerce-A New F1t
 teen Hundred Ton Vessel at West
 Haven Shipyard to be Launcheo
 Early hn the Summer.
 New Haven's shipping interests are looking up in view of the action of the legislature, both houses, in passing the bill altering the taxation on vessel property and making It a tax on the income derived from such prop erty instead Of taxing the valuation of the vessels. Owners of vessel property feel re- lieved by the change. They feel so both be- cause they feel that the change will remove an incubus from vessel property that has been diminishing New Haven's tonnage and fleet of merchantmen and depreciating the property, and because the change will have the effect of materially beneftting New Ha-
 ven. Various vessel owners who were inter-
 viewed on the subject stated as above and
 added as follows: We have "kicked" against
 the old law emphatically, both for New Ha-
 ven's interests and our own. We hated not only to see the value of our property dlmln- ishing and the number of New Haven's fleet of coasters departing one by one from us,
 but we had little speck of local pride, too, as citizens of New Haven in the matter, for it went against the grain to see our citys maritime interests needlessly suffering. Now what will be the result of the change? Why, without doubt we shall see New Havens vessels which now hail from other ports coming back to us and registering again from our custom house. We shall see a marked addition to New Haven's fleet of vessels. Make a note of it that the public will see also new vessels coming into New Haven and our word for it it will help New Haven's prosperity. It will be worth much money to New Haven. It was gratifying to see the cheerfulness written upon several owners faces when the news came that the legislature had heartily decided in favor of the change. The tax assessors of New Haven will be glad also. They and many more prominent officials of New Ha- ven signed the petition for the change. The tax assessors found it hard matter to get correct vessel valuations, the tax being so high and so injurious to vessel interests. New York discriminates in favor of vessel property so as to promote the prosperity of it's shipping interests. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Della aware impose no tax on vessel property; while Massachusetts and Rhode Island i'm pose tax only upon the income from the property, the same as Connecticut proposes now to do. It is plain to be seen, with neighboring States making such favorable terms as just stated, why the business was slipping away from New Haven. The changed law will remedy the matter. Among those who took the laboring oar and worked hard for the change in the law was MT. Henry Sutton. MT. Sutton would have been com pelled to withdraw much of the shipping which here presents-about $700, 900 worth had such a change not been made as is now no doubt to be made. MT. James D. Dewell, one of our leading men and mer- chants, speaking on this matter said the change would unquestionably be of great ad vantage to New Haven's commercial inter ests. It was impossible for New Haven to compete against the liberal terms offered ves- sells in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Whether pr no the change in the law would bring the fleet of merchantmen back to New Haven was a question propOunded to a prominent shipowner. He thought it was doubtful, as New York port offered special facilities for the firms vessels and trade in addition to the low taxation of vessel prop srty. But the new law would greatly benefit our trade as regards coasters.
 Another fine new vessel is being con- structed at the West Haven shipyard. It is about half done and MT. Sutton expects to have her launched in July or August. It will be another handsome addition to New Haven's fleet of vessels. Its capacity will be 800 tons and it will engage in the general ,oasting trade. A new feature of the vessel which is of interest to ship owners is that it will have 15 horse power steam engine, by means of which the hoisting can be done and various other heavy work, while the vessel will be heated by steam from the boiler.